Lace up for Christmas fun run and give back

THE organisers of the Ballarat Marathon are asking the community to lace up their running shoes as part of their Christmas season celebrations.

The first Ballarat Christmas Fun Run will be held at Victoria Park on Sunday 14 December, with categories ranging from a 420-metre micro-marathon for children aged six and under to a 13-kilometre event.

Ballarat Run Club director Adam McNicol said the initiative is about encouraging people to have a healthy Christmas by being active and supporting local charities.

“The running boom has been so big, and we’ve been really fortunate to get the Ballarat Marathon not only off the ground, but in a position over the first two years where it’s been really successful,” he said.

“We’ve started to think what other events can we spin off from the marathon’s success and really engage that community enthusiasm for running.

“The Ballarat Christmas fun run is all very much about having fun… it’s a great way to get a taste for an event where’s there’s timing and a bib, so the next step up from Parkrun.”

Participation will support the Ballarat Health Services Foundation and Foodbank Victoria with $5 from every entry going towards the Grampians Health Christmas Appeal to fund kids’ rehab and to provide meals for people in need.

Foodbank Victoria is currently feeding 69,000 Victorians a day.

“We have a meals program where we are offering hot meals to people who come and access our community supermarket, that’s through referrals,” Foodbank Victoria Community Food Centre Ballarat manager Katrina Gibbs said.

“We have a full kitchen where we can offer cooking programs as well, but we also distribute fresh, chilled and frozen food across our charity partners.

“Demand is very, very high at the moment and it’s increasing, particularly into the festive season.”

To register for the Christmas fun run, visit ballaratfunrun.au.